VOTERS in Ellesmere Port and across the North West will choose whether they want a regional assembly on Thursday, November 4.

Regional Government Minister Nick Raynsford said referendums will take place in the North West, North East and Yorkshire and Humberside in what is being dubbed 'The Great North Vote'.

Voters in the two-tier council areas of Cheshire, Cumbria and Lancashire will also be able to choose which model of local government they prefer.

Locally, that boils down two choices. First, there is the proposed creation of three district councils to cover Cheshire, by merging the borough with Chester City and calling it Chester and West Cheshire Council, and also merging Crewe and Nantwich with Vale Royal, and Congleton with Macclesfield.

The other option is to transfer all services to Cheshire County Council.

The county's six district councils have 'warmly welcomed' the Government's announcement.

Spokesman for them all, Vale Royal council leader Keith Musgrave, said: 'We have the potential to provide the full range of local authority services in a way that keeps decision making genuinely close to communities.

'A move to all-purpose councils, which are truly in touch with local communities, would give us a real opportunity to improve the way local services are provided.'

Cheshire County Council claims one giant council will cost council taxpayers between £29m and £44m less each year than slicing up the county into three parts.

That equates to an extra £114 to £173 on a Band D Council Tax bill.

But Cllr Musgrave said: 'We do not accept assertions made by the county council on costs and, more importantly, neither did the Boundary Committee in their recommendations to the Government.

'In every independent survey it has commissioned, local people told the Boundary Committee they were far more concerned about their councils being local and responsive to community needs and views.'

Labour leader on Cheshire County Council, Ellesmere Port member Derek Bateman, said: 'It is absolutely essential that Cheshire residents understand what this will mean for them and the county, and that they are not being asked to vote in the dark.'

Sir David Trippier, chairman of the North West Says NO campaign, said: 'We urge North West families and businesses to vote no to these fatally flawed proposals.

'A regional assembly would mean higher Council Tax, more politicians and more bureaucracy.'

'It would be a toothless talking shop with no power over public services and control over less than 1% of Government expenditure in the region.'